When Brutus’s legs suddenly stopped working, his family surrendered him to a shelter, hoping he could get the medical care they simply couldn’t afford. But Brutus’s condition required highly specialized — and very expensive — treatment. That’s where BTRC came in.
We knew Brutus deserved a second chance, and we were determined to do everything we could to help him walk again. As soon as we shared his story and his need for a foster, our volunteers stepped up right away. His foster ‘mom and dad’ met his transport and rushed him to a veterinary specialty hospital for emergency care.
The next day Brutus underwent spinal surgery to remove material compressing his spine and to create a new pathway for spinal fluid. Recovery would take time — and the effects of the surgery wouldn’t be immediate. The hope was that his legs and back would start responding to stimuli, which would show that feeling was returning.
Brutus, true to his name, has proven to be a fighter. He’s remained happy, affectionate, and full of personality — and everyone at the hospital has commented on what a sweet boy he is. He does have a flair for the dramatic (we’ve been told even the gentlest touch on his back gets an Oscar-worthy reaction), but as a Boston-Frenchie mix, that tracks. While his theatrical responses might be a bit much, they’re actually amazing news — it means he can feel stimulation on his back and legs!
His foster family was originally told they’d need to learn how to manually express his bladder. They watched training videos, made plans for a hospital visit... and then came another surprise. Brutus began peeing on his own. He’s also showing some movement in his back legs!
This little guy is not giving up — and neither are we. Still, Brutus’s road to recovery won’t be easy. His future needs remain unclear, and his care will continue to be expensive. To date, his bill is at $11,480.26, and he’s not done yet.
If you’re in a position to help, please consider donating to support Brutus’s recovery.
Every single dollar brings him closer to standing on his own four feet again. ♥
www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/donate
Brutus is being fostered in the Greater Toronto Area and we are not yet accepting adoption inquiries.
